Caribbean Cement ready to supply rebuilding material after Melissa
Published:Friday | November 7, 2025 | 12:08 AMSteven Jackson - Senior Business Reporter
Caribbean Cement Company Limited said it holds sufficient cement inventory and production capacity to support Jamaica’s rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Melissa, as it disclosed third-quarter earnings.
The country’s sole cement manufacturing plant is based at Rockfort in Kingston and reported no fallout from the Category 5 storm.
Caribbean Cement said in response to the Financial Gleaner that its full production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes, annually, was “enough to serve current and any possible increase in demand” and that it was “well-positioned with ample capacity to fully meet demand related to Hurricane Melissa”.
In the quarter ending September, the maker of Carib Cement grew sales revenue by 30 per cent to $8.1 billion. The company attributed the growth to improved weather and operational gains from its kiln expansion, which boosted output and lowered unit costs. Quarterly profit grew from $630 million to $2.3 billion.
“This significant rise was largely driven by enhanced operational efficiency following the completion of the expansion project, which increased production capacity and reduced unit production costs, contributing to a strong gross profit margin of 50.2 per cent,” Caribbean Cement said in its newly released financial report.
The cement maker said its annual maintenance shutdown occurred in the second quarter of 2025, unlike 2024, when it fell in the third quarter, resulting in higher comparative costs last year.
“This growth was supported by improved weather conditions in 2025, in contrast to 2024 when heavy rainfall negatively affected performance,” the company added.
During the third quarter, Caribbean Cement recorded “historic highs” in both clinker and cement production volumes, underscoring the enhanced capacity and efficiency delivered by the upgraded operations.
“The upgrade led to notable cost savings and improved operational efficiency,” Caribbean Cement said.
Following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Westmoreland, caused nationwide damage, but mostly wreaked havoc on western Jamaica, St Elizabeth and St Ann, the Caribbean Cement resumed dispatch operations at its Rockfort plant after safety checks and structural inspections.
“Our ability to resume the dispatch of cement so quickly after Hurricane Melissa is a testament to the strength of our safety protocols, the resilience of our operations, and the dedication of our people. By ensuring all silos and warehouses were secure and fully stocked, we are well-positioned to meet Jamaica’s construction needs without interruption,” said Managing Director Jorge Martinez in a release following the hurricane, a Category 5 storm that packed 185-mile-per-hour winds.
In July, clinker production reached a record 93,450 metric tonnes, surpassing the previous high of 89,600 metric tonnes set in July 2022. Cement output also hit a new milestone of approximately 109,680 metric tonnes, exceeding the prior peak of 103,870 metric tonnes recorded in March 2021.
“Combined, these figures represent a volume increase of over 9,600 metric tonnes and reflect the operational benefits of the kiln expansion,” Caribbean Cement said, referring to its upgrade project launched in August 2022 that cost approximately US$40 million.